The surgical management of patients who achieve a complete pathological response after primary chemotherapy for locally advanced breast cancer

Aims Our aim was to investigate the role of minimal surgery in patients with locally advanced breast cancer (LABC) who achieve a complete pathological (pCR) response to primary chemotherapy (PC) and evaluate subsequent local recurrence (LRR), disease free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS). Methods Between January 2000 and April 2005, 101 patients with operable LABC (T2, T3, N0 or N1, M0) who were not suitable for conservation surgery were treated with PC. Patients were treated with doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide for four cycles (100 patients) then four cycles with paclitaxel (91 patients). Post-PC surgery consisted of multiple core biopsies and axillary clearance for patients with a complete clinical and radiological response. If a pCR was confirmed no further breast surgery was performed. The remaining patients were treated with breast conserving surgery or mastectomy and axillary clearance as appropriate. Adjuvant radiotherapy was given to all patients. Results Breast conservation was possible in 60% of patients. Overall, 20 patients achieved a pCR of which 16 were confirmed on core biopsies alone. All patients were followed-up for a mean of 33.5 months (95% CI, 30.3–36.7). There were 10 local recurrences, four following mastectomy, four after wide excision and two after core biopsies. There was no difference in DFS (chi square = 0.18; p = 0.67) or OS (chi square = 0.67; p = 0.41) between patients achieving a pCR and the remainder. Conclusions The local recurrence rate of these poor prognosis patients is similar to other reported series but higher than in our previously reported series of patients managed according to the same protocol. Our current management therefore now includes pre-treatment marking and subsequent surgical excision.